Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

SALTER Douglas Munro ED MB BS DPM MRANZCP

1901-1975

Douglas Munro Salter was born, on 2nd November 1901, in Angaston, the son of Leslie Nattle Salter and Ellen Reeve, nee Horsfall. He had three siblings Helen, Leslie Edward Munro, and Phyllis. The Salter family were vintners in the Angaston area.  Salter was educated at St Peter’s College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1926. He married Marjorie Doreen Matthews, the daughter of Henry Matthews and Agnes Mayson, nee Beavey, on 1st December 1927, in the Methodist Church, Malvern. Their daughter Helen Munro Salter was born before World War Two. She married James Gordon Furber in New South Wales, on the 8th October 1953.

Salter was commissioned into the AAMC, as a captain, on the 4th January 1928, and was promoted to major on the 5th May 1936. He volunteered for the 2/AIF on the 13th October 1939, and named his wife as his next of kin. They were living in College Street, College Park, SA at the time. Salter left for the Middle East on 9th January 1940, arriving in Kantara on 13th February 1940, and was appointed a company commander of the 2/1st FdAmb. This unit was involved in the action to take Bardia, in January 1941, but moved westward with the 16th Bde on the 8th January 1941. Salter, was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 16th February 1941 was appointed CO of 2/2nd FdAmb, in April 1941, and the senior MO, in Benghazi. The 6th Division was relieved by the 9th Division and 2/2nd FdAmb, went to Greece, as part of Lustre Force, although was not mobilised. According to his records Salter was reported missing in June 1940, but re-joined his unit within two days of the report. The unit was evacuated to Crete and eventually evacuated from Crete at the end of May. When the Japanese entered the war Australian Infantry Forces, including the 2/2 FdAmb, were returned to Australia. Salter returned to Australia via Ceylon in August 1942 and Salter was appointed ADMS 1st Australian Division, which was a militia formation; the Headquarters of which never left Australia, however, militia units fought in New Guinea and Borneo. Salter was promoted to colonel and later posted as ADMS of 6th Australian Division, in August 1942 to May 1943. Salter was then posted as DDMS HQ Northern Territory Force, from May 1943 until February 1945, before resuming his posting with 6th Australian Division. Promoted to brigadier, Salter was posted DDMS 2nd Australian Corps.  He was discharged, on 17th November 1945, and allowed to retain the rank of brigadier. He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (ED) and Mentioned in Despatches for his service. Salter continued in the CMF and was made Honorary Colonel of Central Command, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps from 1957 to 1962.

After the war, Salter took up an interest in psychiatry and obtained a Diploma of Psychiatric Medicine, in Melbourne, in 1947. He was awarded Membership of the Australian College of Psychiatry in 1963. Throughout his life Salter gave significant service to his country through the military and in the public service of psychiatry and in private practice. Douglas Munro Salter died on 1st April 1975.

Source

Blood, Sweat and Fears III: Medical Practitioners South Australia, who Served in World War 2. 

Swain, Jelly, Verco, Summers. Open Books Howden, Adelaide 2019. 

Uploaded by Annette Summers AO RFD